Comparison And Contrast Turf Fields Pros And Cons

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Turf is The Best Turf is a synthetic material used in sports fields such as baseball. It looks like natural grass but has a different feel and playing surface. Some people prefer to play baseball on synthetic grass, but others prefer traditional, natural grass. Because many people around the United States play on grass and turf, baseball players and fans have had an enormous debate. I have played on both grass and turf. Despite liking the natural grass with the traditional feel, I enjoy playing on synthetic turf even more. Turf baseball fields are far better to play on than natural grass fields. A nice thing about playing on turf fields is that they can be played throughout the year. According to “Pros and Cons of Turf Fields,” a turf field …show more content…

The article “The Pros & Cons of Turf Baseball Fields” from Turf Factory Direct explains how durable a turf field is. It can also withstand heavy use because of its artificial nature: “An artificial turf field can be played on for more than 3,000 hours per year on average” (“The Pros & Cons of Turf Baseball Fields”). The field can always be played on in almost any condition, which can’t be done on a natural grass field. The only primary condition that concerns playing on turf is the turf infill, which is the soft black pellets that can become hot in hot temperatures. They make the ground hot and “reportedly record higher than usual temperatures” on turf fields (“Pros and Cons of Turf Fields”). Despite the hot conditions, the field still plays the same way. The article “Artificial Turf vs Grass: A Comparative Guide with Pros and Cons” said that turf can even reach high temperatures “up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.” Hot temperatures and UV radiation make turf hot, but certain turf infills can help regulate the turf temperature, creating a suitable temperature for playing. The only time one touches the ground is either on a slide or …show more content…

That year, “10 National League teams, including the Mets, will play all 162 regular-season games on the real stuff” (Borzi). Floyd heard this, which made him very happy. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about game days that would leave him with “nine innings of discomfort, or a day off” (Borzi). An example like this does show how his body can take a beating from playing, but it could just be from playing non-stop baseball, not just from the turf. Another example of injuries being prevalent on a turf field is former first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who played many years for the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome. Mientkiewicz explained how “...artificial turf had helped cause nagging injuries to teammates like Cristian Guzman, Torii Hunter and others in 2003, nearly wrecking the Twins' run to the American League Central title” (as qtd. in Borzi. Mientkiewicz introduced how frequently guys become hurt because of playing many games on turf and how it affects their team. Even though some players believe the turf causes their injuries, these injuries could be due to poor stretching or worn-out

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